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Does Air Travel Cause Swelling In Feet?
Question: 28 year old female, 5'5", 170 lbs. Both feet, especially the right ankle and top of foot has been swollen for almost 24 hours. There was nothing done to them. I have just been back from a business trip in Vegas that was over 100 degrees each day and I flew back last night for 6 hours on a flight. Could that have anything to do with it? They are a little sore too.
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query. It is very common to find feet swelling after air travel because air travel results in inactivity which causes blood to pool in your leg veins. This should go away soon. But if you are taking any birth control pills then it needs an evaluation because then women have an increased risk of blood clots.
Other cause could have been the high temperature in which you were living for a few days. Not taking adequate fluids coupled with a poor diet high in salt and carbohydrates can cause ankle and feet swelling.
Other serious causes for pedal and ankle edema are congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, high altitude and pregnancy. Are you taking some medicines like laxatives? Abusing these drugs can also cause bilateral pedal edema.
You should follow these lifestyle measures to alleviate the symptoms:
1) Increase muscle activity with walking, avoid standing in place for long periods of time and avoid sitting with the feet dependent.
2) Limit salt intake and stop taking any laxatives (if you are taking them).
3) Elevate the legs when sitting and wear leg wedges while sleeping, support socks and proper fitting shoes and socks.
4) Keep your fluid intake adequate by taking plenty of fluids.
5) If you are taking any birth control pills then get an immediate evaluation from a physician.
6) You can take diuretic pills after consulting your doctor to relive the pedal edema.
If the pedal edema persists then I suggest you an immediate physician consultation. You need to get blood tests, kidney function tests, electrolyte levels, ECG and stress ECHO, venous Doppler of the legs and urine tests done.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for posting your query. It is very common to find feet swelling after air travel because air travel results in inactivity which causes blood to pool in your leg veins. This should go away soon. But if you are taking any birth control pills then it needs an evaluation because then women have an increased risk of blood clots.
Other cause could have been the high temperature in which you were living for a few days. Not taking adequate fluids coupled with a poor diet high in salt and carbohydrates can cause ankle and feet swelling.
Other serious causes for pedal and ankle edema are congestive heart failure, kidney disease, arthritis, high altitude and pregnancy. Are you taking some medicines like laxatives? Abusing these drugs can also cause bilateral pedal edema.
You should follow these lifestyle measures to alleviate the symptoms:
1) Increase muscle activity with walking, avoid standing in place for long periods of time and avoid sitting with the feet dependent.
2) Limit salt intake and stop taking any laxatives (if you are taking them).
3) Elevate the legs when sitting and wear leg wedges while sleeping, support socks and proper fitting shoes and socks.
4) Keep your fluid intake adequate by taking plenty of fluids.
5) If you are taking any birth control pills then get an immediate evaluation from a physician.
6) You can take diuretic pills after consulting your doctor to relive the pedal edema.
If the pedal edema persists then I suggest you an immediate physician consultation. You need to get blood tests, kidney function tests, electrolyte levels, ECG and stress ECHO, venous Doppler of the legs and urine tests done.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How long does it usually take for the swelling to go down? How long should I wait before going to the doctor if the swelling does not go down? I am currently not taking birth control. I'm not taking any laxatives either.
Hello,
Thanks for writing back. It will take atleast 24 hours for the swelling to subside. Sometimes it may take a bit longer like 2 days also. If the swelling does not subside after this time, then please make sure to consult your physician. In the meantime you should keep moving, keep the legs elevated while sitting and use compression stockings.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for writing back. It will take atleast 24 hours for the swelling to subside. Sometimes it may take a bit longer like 2 days also. If the swelling does not subside after this time, then please make sure to consult your physician. In the meantime you should keep moving, keep the legs elevated while sitting and use compression stockings.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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